Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday said war is unlikely but called on Iran’s Armed Forces to boost their defense capabilities amid increased tension with the United States.

“Based on political calculations, there is no likelihood of a military war, but the armed forces must be vigilant ... and upgrade their personnel and equipment capacities,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with commanders and officials of Iranian Army’s Air Defense Base in Tehran, which was held to mark Iran’s Air Defense Day.

Stressing the importance of increasing preparedness and capabilities of the Air Defense Base and its staff, he said that the Army’s Air Defense Base is a very sensitive part of the Armed Forces, which is on the frontline of the confrontation with Iran’s enemies.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that every step that is taken to boost the preparedness of Iran’s Armed Forces amounts to an act of worship before the Almighty God.

During the meeting, the new commander of Iranian Army’s Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, presented a report on the base’s measures and future plans.

On Saturday, Iran announced plans to boost its ballistic and cruise missile capacity and acquire modern fighter planes and submarines to boost its defenses following the US pullout from Tehran’s nuclear agreement with world powers.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month the Islamic Republic’s military prowess was what deterred Washington from attacking it.